Hidden bacteria in artery plaques may predict Post-Surgery risks

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria 1\. Patients clinically diagnosed with moderate-to-severe carotid artery stenosis 2. Age 18 ≤ age ≤ 90 3. Patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) 4. Preoperative mRS score of 0-2 5. Preoperative NIHSS score: 0-20 6. Patient's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score upon admission: 8-15 points 7. No fever or evidence of infection at admission 8. Informed consent signed by the subject or their legal representative 9. Good compliance with follow-up visits Exclusion Criteria 1. Brain tumor (presence of mass effect) 2. Patient Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score \< 8 3. Refractory hypertension unresponsive to medication (defined as sustained systolic blood pressure \>185 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>110 mmHg) 4. History of severe infection within the past three months 5. Severe or acute heart failure 6. Acute myocardial infarction or severe arrhythmia 7. Undergone major organ surgery or biopsy within the past month 8. Any active bleeding or recent bleeding (gastrointestinal, urinary tract, etc.) within the past month 9. Currently undergoing hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis; known severe renal impairment (glomerular filtration rate \< 220 mmol/L (2.5 mg/dL)) 10. Concurrent malignant tumors, severe cardiopulmonary disease, or other conditions rendering the patient unable to tolerate surgery 11. Has participated in other interventional clinical studies that may influence the outcome assessment. 12. Severe liver function abnormalities. 13. Other circumstances deemed by the investigator to make participation in this study inappropriate or pose significant risk to the patient (e.g., inability to understand and/or comply with study procedures and/or follow-up due to psychiatric, cognitive, or emotional disorders) 14. Currently receiving immunosuppressive agents or undergoing immunotherapy 15. Severe chest or abdominal trauma requiring surgery 16. Severe Traumatic Brain Injury 17. Infectious Diseases such as Syphilis, AIDS, Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis